World's only real pirate treasure dug up and coming to Galveston

Updated 8:09 am, Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Photo: Barry Clifford Expedition Whydah

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The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod. less

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape ... more

Photo: Barry Clifford Expedition Whydah

Image 2 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod. less

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of ... more

Photo: Barry Clifford Expedition Whydah

Image 3 of 31

Photo: Barry Clifford Expedition Whydah

Image 4 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod. less

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of ... more

Photo: Barry Clifford Expedition Whydah

Image 5 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod. less

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of ... more

Photo: Barry Clifford Expedition Whydah

Image 6 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod. less

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of ... more

Photo: Barry Clifford Expedition Whydah

Image 7 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod.

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod.

Image 8 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod. less

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of ... more

Photo: Barry Clifford Expedition Whydah

Image 9 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod. less

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of ... more

Photo: Barry Clifford Expedition Whydah

Image 10 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod. less

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of ... more

Photo: Barry Clifford Expedition Whydah

Image 11 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod. less

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of ... more

Photo: Barry Clifford Expedition Whydah

Image 12 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod. less

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of ... more

Photo: Barry Clifford Expedition Whydah

Image 13 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod. less

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of ... more

Photo: Barry Clifford Expedition Whydah

Image 14 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod. less

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of ... more

Photo: Barry Clifford Expedition Whydah

Image 15 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod. less

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of ... more

Photo: Barry Clifford Expedition Whydah

Image 16 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod. less

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of ... more

Photo: Barry Clifford Expedition Whydah

Image 17 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod. less

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of ... more

Photo: Barry Clifford Expedition Whydah

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Barry Clifford, left, reviews an X-ray image of a rocky mass containing a cannon ball and coins that diver and conservator Chris Macort, right, had recorded in Brewster, Mass. The concretion is some of the new treasure recovered around the wreck of the Whydah, a pirate ship that sank off Cape Cod in 1717. less

Barry Clifford, left, reviews an X-ray image of a rocky mass containing a cannon ball and coins that diver and conservator Chris Macort, right, had recorded in Brewster, Mass. The concretion is some of the new ... more

Photo: Merrily Cassidy, MBR

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Victor Ticas, left, Dan Perina and Isaac Bachicha assemble replicas of the captain's quarters and ship's hold as they existed on the pirate vessel Whydah.

Victor Ticas, left, Dan Perina and Isaac Bachicha assemble replicas of the captain's quarters and ship's hold as they existed on the pirate vessel Whydah.

Photo: James Nielsen, Chronicle

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The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod. less

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of ... more

Photo: Moody Gardens/Real Pirates Exhibition

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The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod. less

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and
other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is
still being found at the wreck site off the coast of ... more

Photo: Moody Gardens/Real Pirates Exhibition

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The Real Pirates Exhibit opens at Moody Gardens March 8th.

The Real Pirates Exhibit opens at Moody Gardens March 8th.

Photo: Moody Gardens/Real Pirates Exhibition

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The Real Pirates Exhibit opens at Moody Gardens March 8th.

The Real Pirates Exhibit opens at Moody Gardens March 8th.

Photo: Moody Gardens/Real Pirates Exhibition

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The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod.

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod.

Image 25 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod.

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod.

Image 26 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod.

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod.

Image 27 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod.

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod.

Image 28 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod.

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod.

Image 29 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod.

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod.

Image 30 of 31

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod.

The Whydah sank in 1717 carrying hundreds of thousands of gold coins and other artifacts. It is the only pirate treasure ever found. More is still being found at the wreck site off the coast of Cape Cod.

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World's only real pirate treasure dug up and coming to Galveston

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The most valuable haul of pirate treasure ever found is heading to Galveston for an exhibit showcasing dozens of cannons, coins and muskets.

The ship, the Whydah, sank off Cape Cod in 1717 under the command of notorious pirate Black Sam Bellamy. It was carrying tens of thousands of gold coins earned from selling slaves in the Carribean.

Forbes estimates the ship's 200,000 artifacts, which include African jewelry, muskets, gold belt buckles and 60 cannons, to be worth more than $100 million. The ship is the only authenticated pirate ship ever to be found.

"When people see it, it's like they are looking at the only T. Rex ever to be found," said Barry Clifford, who discovered the ship and is therefore the owner of all the treasure. "It's the only pirate treasure in the world."

Clifford started looking for the ship in 1982 after hearing stories about the wreck growing up as a child. One-hundred eighty pirates died when it sank. Eight survived and were tried in Massachusetts.

After studying maps and court documents from the trials he eventually honed in on a patch of sand just 115 feet from the shore.

"I was convinced the ship was there," said Clifford. "And I was convinced there was a large amount of treasure on board. Black Sam had robbed 54 ships."

Eventually, dive teams digging 30 feet deep in the seabed found a coin from 1684 that was frozen into a cannon ball. It wasn't until they found the ship's bell, which read "The Whydah 1716," that people started to believe them.

The Whydah was the 50th ship the pirate captain took. It was a slave ship built by the Royal African Company and was filled with cash from selling its slave bounty in Jamaica.

The discovery added new details in the history of piracy as it revealed many pirates were people who had been brought from Africa to be sold as slaves but had found new freedom joining crews like Black Sam's.

"Once I discovered that I realised I could never sell," said Clifford, who's devoted his life to the Whydah collection and the hunt for other sunken pirate ships. "Many of the coins are coins that paid for people. It's a very important collection."

Clifford said the State of Massachusetts tried to force him to sell claiming they owned a third of it. He took it all the way to the Supreme Court where judges ruled in his favor and the collection was safe.

He is now hoping to build a museum on Cape Cod to permanently house the collection.

The exhibition Real Pirates Exhibition opens at Moody Gardens on March 8.